PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth eye Indonesia Masters badminton title in new season

PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth were in fine form last season as they clinched multiple titles and will begin their quest for another successful season at the Indonesia Masters World Tour Super 500 tournament beginning in Jakarta tomorrow.

PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth will begin their quest for another successful season at the Indonesia Masters World Tour Super 500 tournament beginning in Jakarta tomorrow. (PTI)

Indian ace shuttlers P V Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth will look to make a positive start to the new season when they kick off the international calender at the USD 350,000 Indonesia Masters World Tour Super 500 tournament beginning, here tomorrow.

PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth have been simply sensational last season as they clinched multiple titles and they would begin their quest for another successful season, taking on Indonesia’s Hanna Ramadini and Malaysia’s Zulfadli Zulkiffli respectively in the main draw of women’s and men’s event.

Sindhu won three titles and three silvers last season, while Srikanth exceeded all expectations with four titles and a runners-up finish and the duo would hope to continue their good run in the new season.

Sindhu was in good form in the Premier Badminton League (PBL) where her only loss was against Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun but Srikanth had to endure three losses against Chinese Taipei’s Tzu Wei Wang and compatriots H S Prannoy and B Sai Praneeth.

Coming back from an ankle injury, London Games bronze medallist Saina Nehwal, who had a moderate last season with the only highlight being the bronze at World Championship, will have a tough task at hand when she faces young world no 8 Chen Yufei, seeded seventh, in the opening round.

H S Prannoy, who achieved a career-best ranking of world no 10 with some scintillating performances last year, will begin the season with a clash against Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke, while a fit-again Sameer Verma will meet a formidable Kazumasa Sakai of Japan in the opening round.

Prannoy had a good outing at the PBL before his 10-match winning streak was snapped by Thailand’s T Saensomboonsuk. The Indian had also lost to world no 1 Viktor Axelsen in the semifinals to end Ahmedabad Smash Masters campaign in the third edition.